Agronomy

Post-harvest management comprises the various technologies and practices undergone by the farmer, farmers’ groups or cooperatives and/or agribusiness companies,from the field to the plate, to handle the crop production immediately following harvest, up to its final destination, such as storing, transport,cleaning, sorting, processing and packing.

The instant a crop is harvested, it begins to deteriorate. Postharvest management aims at slowing this decaying process for the best quality for the consumer, either as fresh or dry produce, or as ingredients in a processed food product.

The most important goals of post-harvest handling are keeping the product cool, to avoid moisture loss and slow down undesirable chemical changes (eg grain fats could go rancid), and avoiding physical damage such as bruising or cutting, to delay spoilage.